CONTACT Alyson B. Stanfield 303.273.5904 · alyson@stanfieldart.com

Air Garden 1.7 "Planted" in New Elementary School

FORT COLLINS, CO, September 26, 2003--Artist Mel Ristau completed the installation of his colorful mobile at 2:00 a.m. on August 20, a scant six hours before the first day of classes in the new Audelia Creek Elementary School near Dallas, Texas.

Ristau's concept for one large and eight smaller mobiles for the school was approved in late June, a short timetable for such a large undertaking. Air Garden 1.7, which serves as a focal point in the school, is composed of more than 300 parts, made of aluminum and steel, and painted in bright, primary colors plus green and black. Its complexity demanded collaboration with machinists, metal fabricators, painters, and an installation crew. Like the rest of Ristau's work, it is whimsical. Abstracted forms from nature-petals, flowers, birds, stars, and leaves-dangle 24 feet from three separate points that span 16 feet. Most of the shapes, including propellers and plane wings, dance around the axis like planets in a solar system. An orb, defined only by the outline of its black and blue steel parts, is the largest shape and occupies the center. Pointing to it on opening day, a first-grade student thrilled the artist by saying, "I'd like to sit right up there and just fly away."

Air Garden 1.7 is viewable when standing from the building's second story, which wraps around the atrium, but the best viewing is from below. Dr. Carolyn G. Bukhair, Superintendent for Richardson Independent School District, said of it, "[Ristau's] playful, yet sophisticated sculpture creates an inspirational focal point that exceeds our expectations. Both children and adults are delighted by its stimulating effect." The eight smaller mobiles hang in the school's two main corridors.

Ristau, who is originally from Lafayette, LA, moved from Dallas, TX, to Fort Collins, CO, in early 2002 to pursue his lifelong interest in designing and fabricating large-scale hanging and illuminated sculpture. Prior to that, he was a successful product designer, which he continues to do with vigor. He is the creator of Tickelopes®, a patented envelope created with colorful foam graphics, and also developed The Learning Station, an extensive curriculum that combines software, multi-functional mini-computer and related robotic modeling components. Its technology is used by middle and high school students across the U.S. to enhance systems thinking. Most recently Ristau has been showing his playful side again with the summer 2003 introduction of Light-Bugs™, fun critters that introduce all ages to beading and wire craft.

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